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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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TLC.O.885

21 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO

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(2) Whether there is any overworking of children on any estate; and (3) The average number of hours of labour required of children.

So far as the information in the hands of the Government goes-and the Immigration Agent-General is very positive on the point-there is absolutely no overworking of children on estates, and they are represented as being happy, cheerful, and contented. As to whether they give a sufficient amount of time to school instruction is not so clear. The Immigration Agent-General is averse to the application of the com- pulsory clauses of the Education Act to the children of East Indians. He says, "I strongly deprecate any pressure being put upon the people themselves " to send their children to school, and thinks that if this were done it

may result in the driving out of these people and their children from the Colony." I do not concur in these views; but the matter is one that it has always been recognised should be dealt with with caution, and the same policy will continue to guide me.

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12. I think that in the foregoing remarks I have dealt with all the matters which, in the opinion of the Committee, require examination and adjustment, and I have shown that adjustment will be made where necessary.

13. I turn now to the concluding remarks with regard to emigration to British Guiana which are contained in paragraph 250 of the report. The question whether it is desirable in the interests of the Colony that a certain number of East Indians, over and above the number indentured for by the planters, should be annually introduced at the expense of the Government is, with other matters, now engaging the attention of a Commission appointed for its consideration on the 19th February, 1909, in accordance with a resolution passed in Court of Policy on the 17th December, 1908. The work of the Commission was suspended upon the announcement of the appointment of the Committee whose report I have been dealing with, but the Commission has again got to work and is now sitting under the chairmanship of Professor Harrison, Director of Science and Agriculture. I recognise the force of the statement in paragraph 250 that "there is need for great caution in increasing the liabilities of the Colony for return passages of immigrants in case at any time there should be a serious renewal of difficulties for the sugar industry," and no action will of course be taken without first placing the position before you. The question of inducing time-expired immigrants to remain in the Colony by giving them grants of land in lieu of their back passages is once more under consideration.

14. The Committee express the opinion (paragraph 250) that in the interests of the immigrants, no less than in those of the Colony as a whole, well-considered schemes of land reclamation, drainage, and irrigation, and industrial and agricul- tural education are needed to keep pace with immigration, and that the latter should not be artificially stimulated by the introduction of large bodies of immigrants mainly at the expense of the State."

15. These matters have not To Secretary of State, No. 340, 12

November, 1908.

From Secretary of State, No. 14, 14 January, 1909.

To Secretary of State, No. 182, 2 June, 1910.

by any means been overlooked. With regard to industrial training, I have the honour to refer to the despatches noted in the margin* and to the Industrial Training Ordinance, 1910 (No. 6 of 1910.) Agricultural Education has been, and is being, attended to. The establishment of school garden work in the primary schools of the Colony was arranged for by my predecessor, Sir J. A. Swettenham, and I have added to it 10 agricultural apprenticeships, which are held by those of the lads who have shown an inclination for agricultural work they are tenable for three years with instruction under the Department of Science and Agricul- ture. It is now proposed to establish an Agricultural School, and with regard to this I beg leave to refer to my despatch, No. 393, of the 24th ultimo.†

From Secretary of State, No. 196, 13 July, 1910.

To Secretary of State, No. 282, 3 Sep- tember, 1910,

16. My opinion with regard to the carrying out of "well-considered schemes of land reclamation, drainage, and irrigation" was conveyed to the Legislature in the speech which I delivered at the opening of the special session of the Combined Court on the 31st October. I have marked the paragraphs in the enclosed copy- such schemes are, in my judgment, unnecessary for the reasons stated, and because

† 38186/10: not printed.

43977/08, 43977/08, 19671/10, 19671/10, 28994/10: not printed.

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the Government has in its hands several sugar estates which are empoldered, irrigated, and drained, and which, abandoned by their owners for various reasons, are available to East Indians and others in suitable lots at reasonable prices. The latest additions to the list are the large estates of "La Jalousie " and Windsor Forest," and steps will be taken to throw them open to the general population on easy terms. In this connection I have the honour to refer you to my despatch, No. 385, of the 19th November with regard to Plantation Triumph, and to my despatch, No. 261, of the 3rd August,* in which I transmitted copies of a draft Bill entitled "An Ordinance to provide for the formation and regulation of polders and for the irrigation and drainage thereof." Committee and will very shortly be passed.

This Bill has been considered in

SIR,

Enclosure 1 in No. 12.

I have, &c.,

IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT.

NOTICE OF OFFICIAL VISIT.

No.

on

F. M. HODGSON.

19

District. 19

1. I have the honour to inform you that I shall officially visit Plantation . deal with those immigrants who have been absent from work during the past month when I shall and with any that are entitled to Certificates of Exemption from Labour.

2. I shall at the same time inspect the Hospital and dwellings of the immigrant.

3. I have to request that you will be good enough to bring before me any immigrans who are unable to maintain themselves, or whose cases you desire to have brought under the notice of the Immigration Agent-General.

Pln.

I have, &c.,

Immigration Agent.

1

Esq.,

Manager.

Enclosure 2 in No. 12.

MINUTE BY The Postmaster-GENERAL.

HONOURABLE Government Secretary,

So far as this Department is concerned the Indian immigrant enjoys excellent postal facilities. If serving on a plantation bis or her correspondence is forwarded to the manager of the estate for delivery, and when resident in the villages a daily delivery by rural letter carrier is made. Where there is a difficulty in reading the address on letters, they are dealt with by the interpreter from the Immigration Department, who attends fortnightly at the General Post Office, Georgetown. Remittances by money order are easily arranged for at the several money order offices throughout the Colony, and on payment of a small fee, viz., 2дd., an acknow- ledgment of payment in India can be obtained by the remitter.

2. Excellent facilities are also provided for the deposit of their savings in the several district post office savings banks.

3.

I know of no addition by which the present postal arrangements might be improved on.

16th September, 1910.

A. W. SWAIN,

Postmaster-General.

• 38178/10, 25992/10: not printed.